Shell to meet gas pipeline protest residents

Shell will hold face-to-face talks with residents from north Mayo opposed to the oil giant’s controversial gas pipeline, it was announced today.

Government Ministers Eamon Ryan and Eamon Ó Cuiv will attend the meeting at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on Friday.

The residents will be represented by community groups Pobal Chill Chomain and Pobal le Cheile.

“The aim of this meeting is to try to resolve issues in relation to the Corrib gas project,” said a Government spokesman.

“The ministers hope that all parties will enter the talks in a positive and open manner, have agreed that the meeting will be conducted in an even-handed way and that it will have a completely open agenda with no predetermined outcome.”

Joe Brosnan, the former senior civil servant who heads up a forum aimed at resolving the long-standing controversy, will chair the talks.